Treatment Centers Now Focus on the Entire Family

October 2006 — Nigerian children affected by HIV are benefiting from two care and treatment centers that now integrate pediatric and adult services. By serving entire families at a single setting, these pioneering centers offer a holistic approach to HIV care and simplify complex treatment logistics for families with more than one infected member.

Launched in July 2005 by FHI's Global HIV/AIDS Initiative Nigeria (GHAIN) Project in partnership with the Nigerian Ministry of Health, the centers are based at Massey Street Hospital in Lagos and Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital in Kano. Services provided include counseling and testing, pediatric and adult clinical care, antiretroviral therapy (ART), adherence counseling, psychosocial support services and palliative care. Six additional GHAIN-supported HIV comprehensive care centers are expected to convert to this family-centered model soon.

All eight facilities have had a major impact on the health of Nigeria's HIV-positive children. In the past year, they have enrolled more than 1,000 children, more than half of whom have begun antiretroviral therapy tailored for children. Medical staff have found that most children respond well to pediatric therapy, which leads to improved growth and cognitive function, diminished opportunistic infections, improved immune function with higher CD4 counts, and — above all — a chance to thrive and reach adulthood.

Because of high demand for pediatric services, the Nigerian government plans to expand the program with FHI's help. This will require training more health professionals in pediatric treatment and adapting the program to function in rural areas that have no laboratory support.

GHAIN's activities are funded by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Photo: A pharmacist at Wuse General Hospital in Abuja, which is converting to a family-centered HIV treatment and care model, dispenses antiretroviral medication to both mother and infant. (FHI/Nigeria)